Support for neon tubes



Jan. 24, 1939. M FLETCHER- SUPPORT FOR NEON TUBES Filed April 15, 1937INVENTOR MILTON FLETCHER h I i i llldvlllfllrlln ,IllilflI/IlllltllEATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a support forneon tubes.

The invention contemplates the construction of a novel type of supportfor neon tubes which may be adjusted longitudinally of the support uponwhich it is mounted for varying the distance be- Still further theinvention provides for a shank.

element which is adapted to continue from the end of said tubularportion and frictionally engage into a socket portion for supportingsaid shank element in various relative longitudinal positions.

Still further the invention provides for a means for looking a shankelement in its adjusted positions in the socket member. Morespecifically, this locking means comprises a lever pivotally mountedintermediate of its ends and extending 0 upwards into a position inwhich the bottom end tion for fixedly connecting these sectionstogether.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the supportfor neon tubes according tothis invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts forming a modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 3 is a front View of the parts shown in Fig. 2 in their assembledcondition.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a still further modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 4.

The support for neon tubes, according to this invention, comprises asplit tubular portion l0 into one end H) of which a shank portion of aI! are formed on the inside wall of the tubular portion l0 and areadapted to abut against the sides of the tube support member forfrictionally maintaining this member in position in the tubular portionIll. The support portion Hi is of substantially flat construction and isat right angles to the axis of the tubular portion l0 and is providedwith a bayonet slot l3 into which a bolt or other fastening element maybe engaged for adjustably attaching the support upon a sign or otherbody.

The tube support member is not shown in connection with Fig. 1 but it isof v a similar construction to that which is shown in Fig. 2 and isconstructed of glass, or similar non-conducting material. I

The bayonet slot l3 permits the support for neon tubes to be fastened tothe signs first by screwing the attaching screw into the sign andthereafter slipping the bayonet slot l3 of the assembled support member,under the head of the screw and then tightening the screw.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a split tubularportion In is shown having a split ll along one of its sides and intowhich the shank portion Hi of a tube support member l5 may be engaged. Ashank element lll continues from the other end Ill of the tubularportion longitudinally of its axis and from the side opposite the splitopening H. A socket portion I6 is provided for. supporting the shankelement Ill in various relative longitudinal positions. The socketmember comprises a strip of material I6 having longitudinal edgeportions 16 extending towards each other and a foot portion l6continuing from one of the ends of the portion upon which thelongitudinal edge portions l5 are formed. This foot portion lfi is forthe purpose of supporting the entire device upon a sign or similar body.A number of niches H are formed along the length of the socket member [6and are to be selectively engaged by a protuberance l8 formed on theshank element for frictionally maintaining the shank element Hl in itsvarious adjusted positions in the socket member IS.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The foot portion Ni of the socket member I6 is fixedly attached to thesign and the shank element lll is engaged into the socket I6 so that theprotuberance l8 formed thereon will engage one of the niches I'l formedin the socket member. The tube support member I5 is then engaged intothe split tubular shank portion In to a position in which it is desiredto attach the neon tube. Wires are then usedfor holding the neon tube inposition on thetube support member l5 by engaging wire beneath the earsl5 formed on this support member. When the entire device is assembledand itis found that the neon tube is too near the sign upon which it isapplied it is merely necessary to withdraw a portion of the shankelement I0 from the socket I6 to extend the split tubular portion I0 andextend the neon tube from the sign..

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a means isillustrated for locking the shank portion III of the tubular portion I0in position. upon the socket element I6. More specifically, this meanscomprises an arm 20 which is pivotally mounted intermediate of its endsby means of a pintle pin 2| which engages through the sides of the splittubular portion I0. One of theends 20 of the arm 20 extends upwards intothe split tubular portion I 0 between the split I I formed therein soasto be engaged by the bottom-end I5 of the tube support member I5 whenit is engaged therein. The other end 20 of the arm 20 is formed with aturned over end 20 which engages'through a slot 22 formed in the shankelement I0 This slot 22 is selectively alignable with a plurality ofslots 23 formed in the socket member I6 and through which the turnedover end 20 may also engage-When the slots 22 and 23 are aligned forholding the shank element in a fixed position with relation to thesocket member I6.

A leaf spring 24 operates between the inner face of the tubular portionI0 and a portion of the arm 20 between the pintle pin 2i and-the turnedover end 20 to normally disengage the turned over end 20 from the slotsin the shank element I0 and the socket'member I6 when the tube supportmember I5 is withdrawn topermit the shank element I0 to be moved withinthe socket member I6.

The operation of this form of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the position of the parts shown in Fig. 4 is one of itsadjusted positions and that it is desired to lower the tubular portionI0 to a position in which the turned over end 20 of the arm 20 willengage the lowermost opening 23 in the socket portion I6. To accomplishthis the tube support member I5 is Withdrawn from the split tubularportion I0 permitting the leaf spring 24 to pivot the arm 20 to theposition illustrated by the dot and dash lines 20' in'Fig. 4 todisengage the turned over end 20 from the openings 22 and 23. Theshankelement I0 -is then. pressed inwards to a position in which the opening22 will be aligned with the lowermost. opening 23 and then re-engagingthe tube supportmember I5 into the split tubular portion I0 forcing theend 20* into the split II and causing the turned over end 20 to engagethe openings 22and 23 for locking the" shank element I0 and the socketmember IS in a' fixed position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:- I

1. A support for neon tubes comprising a' split" tubular portion intoone end of which a shank portion of a tube support member is adapted toengage, and a support portion continuing from the other end of saidtubular portion and: from the side opposite said split opening, saidsupport portion being formed with a bayonet slot for releasably holdingsaid support upon a sign or other surface.

2. A support for neon tubes comprising a split tubular portion into oneend of which a shank portion of a tube support member is adapted toengage, a shank element continuing from the other end of said tubularportion longitudinally of its axis and from the side opposite said splitopening, a socket for supporting said shank element' in various relativelongitudinal positions, and means for locking said shank in saidadjusted positions.

3. A support for neon tubes comprising a split tubular portion into oneend of which a shank portion of a tube support member is adapted. to;

engage, a shank element continuing from the other end of said tubularportion longitudinally of its axis and from the side opposite said splitopening, a socket for supporting said shank element in various relativelongitudinal positions,

and means for locking said shank in said adjusted positions, said meanscomprising an arm pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends and havingan end formed with a turned over portion which is adapted to engagethrough a slot formed in the shank element'which is selectivelyalignable with a plurality of slots formed in the'socket member. I

4. A support for neon tubes comprising asplit tubular portion forreceiving a shank portion of a tube support member, a shank elementcontinuing from the other end of said tubular portion 1ongitudinally ofits axis and from the side opposite said split opening, a socket forsupporting said shank element in various relative longitudinalpositions, and means for locking said shank in said:

adjusted positions, said means comprising, an arm pivotally mountedintermediate of its ends and having an end formed with a turned overportion which is adapted to engage through a slot formed in the shankelement which is selectively alignable with a plurality of slots formedin the-socket member, said arm having the other of its ends extendingupwards into the path traversed by the shank portion of said tubesupport member and a resilient means for disengaging said turned overend from said slots.

5. A support for neon tubes comprising a split tubular portion forreceiving a shank portion of a tube support member, a shank elementcontinuing from the other end of said tubular portion longitudinally ofits axis and from the side opposite said split opening, a socket forsupporting said shank element in various relative longitudinalpositions, and means for locking said shank in said adjusted positions,said means comprising an arm pivotally mounted intermediate of its endsand having an end'formed with a turned over portion which is adapted toengage through a slot formed in the shank element which is selectivelyalignable with a plurality of slots formed in the socket member, saidarm having the other of its ends extending upwards into the pathtraversed by the shank portion of said tube support member and'aresilient means for disengaging said'turned over end from said slots,said resilient means.

comprising a leaf spring acting between said split tubular portion andsaid arm.

MILTON FLETCHER.

